Mobile Bartenders, Party Bartenders, Uncategorized

La Bartender in Orange County for Two Parties

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Metropolis themed Halloween party in Orange

Shaken Not Stirred, the LA bartender service was in Orange County last weekend to service two big parties. This was Halloween weekend for most people in Southern California and most of the Halloween parties were held Saturday night. I can’t tell you how many calls I had from people wanting bartenders at the last moment. My client was smart and booked me months ago.

The Halloween party in the city of Orange I guess is an annual event, but this was my first time doing it. They had the house decorated very nicely with a Metropolis, speakeasy type theme. I was nervous and arrived plenty early to get things set up. My motto for bartending is be prepared. I was nervous because the bartender who was supposed o work with me on this party dropped out at the last minute. I had to use a bartender I had never used before and I was afraid he was going to suck. I got a barback too that I had never used before.

The extra bartender showed up early which was a good sign and he brought a big cooler with him. I think he did a good job, but don’t know for sure because once the party started we were so busy at our seperate bars we didn’t have a moment to spare. At most times during the night I had a line of people leading up to the bar. The barback showed on time and helped us alot. We served out of almost everything by the end of the night. We used almost 300lbs of ice.

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Shots!

LA Bartender Service

  • Birthday parties and anniversaries
  • Corporate events
  • Weddings
  • Holiday parties
  • Openings
  • Reunions

One thing I want to mention was the entertainment, Phil Shane. He was just incredible and I guess he is kind of an Orange County legend. He can sing Elvis better than Elvis, and did a whole range of Elvis songs, Jimmy Buffett, Neil Diamond, Conway Twitty, and many other classics. The guy did not singing the entire five hours I was there. He was a genuine human juke box. At the end of the party he came up to me and tipped me, because I kept sending him drinks. I told him, that it was me that should be tipping him.

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Some of the ladies at Laguna Beach Reunion

I stayed at a motel in OC Saturday night because on Sunday I had to do a reunion at the Laguna Beach Women’s Club. The reunion was for a group of ladies that went to a Catholic high school in Tehran, Iran in the seventies. Their families had to leave the country after the Iranian revolution in 1979. So, many of the ladies traveled from far and wide to attend this event.

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Vintage photo at Laguna Beach Women’s Club

They had a great time and danced to traditional Persian music and ate traditional Persian food. I served Mojitos and margaritas, and I helped clear the plates from the dinner. I drove back to LA after the party and was dog tired. I was supposed to do another event tonight (Halloween), but they cancelled this morning. I was just as glad. The LA bartender had a full weekend. This week I am bartending an event I have done twice previously – the Gingerbread Boutique in Westlake Village. Then on Friday I am returning to Silver Lake to bartend a birthday party that I also did last year.

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Laguna Beach after the rain
Baptism Party, Fiesta Bartender, Mobile Bartenders

Mobile Bartender Stands by at Eagle Rock Baptism Fiesta

Hurry sundown!
Hurry sundown!

Saturday night, Shaken Not Stirred, the mobile bartender was on hand to mix drinks in Eagle Rock for a baptism celebration. The proud parents baptized two of their children the same day and thus the occasion for a celebration.  The party was held at a hilltop home in that funky neighborhood of Los Angeles known as Eagle Rock.

It was a hot day with temperatures reaching into the 100’s. When I arrived the DJ told me, “Sorry bro, you’re going to be up there in that hot box,” and he pointed to a deck that was directly in the blazing sun. They did have a small tent set up for me, and I set up my portable bar underneath the tent. This was the third party in a row where I was in the sun until it went down. It could be worse, because I often see caterers working in direct sunlight over a hot grill. That just goes with the territory. The guests get the shade, and that’s the way it should be.

Lety’s Catering Service provided the tacos. She had some of the best salsa I have ever tasted.  I have worked with many taco caterers and it seems that each one of them have something unique to offer. The DJ was the host’s brother and he did a great job – he no longer does it professionally, but used to DJ at clubs like Florentine Gardens in Hollywood.

Eagle Rock in August
Eagle Rock in August

About 80 guests arrived to celebrate the baptism. I served many Mojitos, Long Island Ice Teas, Gin and Tonics, and Bay Breezes. I used to muddle the mint leaves for Mojitos and I would basically crush them. A veteran bartender told me not to do that, and to gently tap the mint leaves with a bar spoon to get the best flavor and essence of the mint. I think he was right, and the Mojitos were a hit.  I told the host to get five cases of beers, and I think there were like nine beers left when I left.

Mobile Bartender Service

  • Portable bar and table available
  • Consultation about drink menu and shopping list
  • Theme party friendly
  • Weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries
  • Fundraisers, corporate events, openings

    Guests mixing it up on the dance floor
    Guests mixing it up on the dance floor

Today, I will put on my mobile bartender clothes and travel to West Hollywood to bartend a baby shower. This week I have managed to stay close to home and it has been all about the kids. Next weekend is Labor Day Weekend and I have three big events scheduled.  Saturday, I will travel to Coachella to bartend a wedding, then on Sunday I will return to the San Fernando Valley for a birthday party in Northridge, and then on Labor Day, I will bartend a pool party in Sherman Oaks.  Summer is slipping away quickly and I have already booked my first holiday party. If you have a party coming up and need a mobile bartender, please call me at (310) 280-6103.

Shots!
Shots!